Meanwhile, when Mey fell and Liebe went after her on the cliff, what happened was that he was able to grab her hand. He said, "Dark magic, wing of dark!" but his magic wasn't working.
Liebe said, "No choice." He used one of his dual swords to slow his fall by thrusting it into the mountain until it stopped because of the sword. Then Liebe said, "Mey, wake up! Mey! Mey!"
As Mey opened her eyes, Liebe said, "Mey, are you fine?"
As Liebe was holding her hand and preventing her from falling, she couldn't exactly use sign language — she just nodded.
Liebe said, "Good. We fell off the cliff and… well, don't look down, okay? Can you use your wings to gently fly us down?"
Mey just nodded a "no."
Liebe said, "Got it. Okay… now slowly climb up my body, okay? I can't hold us like this forever, okay?"
As she was climbing his arm to his shoulders, Liebe kept encouraging her, saying, "You're doing great, just a bit more." As she finally climbed up to his neck, Liebe said, "Good, now we're stable at least, and I have both my arms."
Looking down, Liebe thought, From what I'm seeing, maybe we're about 2,890 feet in the air. Best not to tell Mey — she'll just get scared.
Liebe said, "Hold onto me tight, okay? We're going down slowly. It might take us all day."
Mey nodded "yes."
Then Liebe drew his second sword and carved it into the mountain below the first. He took out his first sword and carved it slightly lower than the other. In this way, they descended gradually. At the base was a small pond, so if they fell from about 30 to 50 feet, they would be unharmed.
After the sun set, they reached 15 feet above. Liebe said, "Mey, the sun already set, okay? So listen, it's time for us to get shelter quickly, okay? So we'll have to jump now, okay?"
Mey nodded a "no."
Liebe said, "I understand you're scared, but we'll be in trouble if we don't."
Mey nodded "okay."
Liebe said, "Hold on tight." As he drew his first sword from the mountain, Liebe said, "Here goes everything." He drew his second sword, and they fell. Liebe tried his best to correct his posture for diving as they fell into the lake.
After reaching the land beside the lake, Liebe said, "Let's find shelter. A cave would be best."
They found a cave beside the pond. As they went inside, Liebe said, "Let's sit down. We probably should ditch these clothes for now, or we might catch a cold — and in a place like this, cold means death."
Mey signed to Liebe, Please turn away.
Liebe took off his uniform and signed, No need, I'm going to get us some food. I'll ask before coming in, okay?
As Mey coughed, Liebe said, "Do you need food or medicine? Did you catch a cold?"
Mey signed, Thanks.
Liebe went out, and Mey took off her clothes and placed them beside Liebe's clothes.
After an hour and a half, Liebe returned. Before entering, Liebe said, "Mey, I'm back. Is it okay if I come in?"
Mey didn't know what to say, so she got flustered and used stones to sound Y in Morse code.
Liebe said, "Sure."
Mey covered her body with her wings. Liebe had some kind of green liquid in a small leaf cup.
Liebe said, "Drink this, it will help with the cold a bit. The herbs of this plant help with respiration."
Then Liebe used his dual swords and rubbed them together to create sparks, lighting the leaves and branches he brought from outside.
Mey signed, Thank you.
Liebe said, "You must be hungry now. Let's eat. Sorry, the only thing I could hunt without my magic were these salmon. I hope fish is okay since I didn't want to risk it — and here are a few fruits."
After cooking the fish over the flames, Mey signed, These are delicious. How do you know to cook? It's surprising to see a guy cook.
Liebe signed, I sometimes cook for my friends — they like it, and well, it's fun for me.
Mey said, How do you know these things about survival?
Liebe said, "When I was a kid, my mom, dad, grandfather and I would go camping — except without the tents or food. We ate whatever we found. My dad would get fruits, my mom would hunt, and my grandfather would light the flames and make medicine. And now that I'm a knight, I have to do the same for missions — sometimes for weeks or months."
Mey signed, You really are like that person from the survival show I live to watch. I like the show — just when it became real, I failed.
Liebe said, "Seeing and doing are different things. And well, did the fall hurt your wings? Since you couldn't fly, did you break any wing bones? They're comparatively softer."
Mey signed, They are fine.
Liebe said, "Can I check?"
As Liebe noticed, he was able to use a bit of magic, but the range was basically zero.
Liebe said, "Can I check?"
Mey signed, Sure.
As Liebe checked, there was indeed a part that was damaged — but the broken parts weren't from the fall. They had healed in such a way that the damage was from a long time ago.
Later, they went to sleep. Late at night, Mey began to scream in agonizing pain. Liebe woke up and said, "Mey, what's wrong?"
Mey signed, It's my wings.
Liebe thought to himself, I can't use my darkness much… but if I can ease it a little…
Liebe said, "Hold still for a second."
As Mey tried her best to stay still despite the pain in her wings, she placed her hands on Liebe's lap. Liebe began to gently stroke her wings.
Liebe gently said, "Dark magic — blissful ignorance."
As Liebe was stroking her feathers, the pain seemed to vanish, and she seemed at peace.
Liebe said, "Is this helping?"
Mey signed, Yes.
Liebe said, "How did this happen?"
Mey signed, It was from 12 years ago. My wings were damaged when my parents attacked us. At night the pain becomes unbearable unless I take my medicine. My brother and I don't talk, but every night he makes sure to remind me to take them. Even when I was in pain and he had work, he would always stay up and help me ease the pain in my wings.
Liebe said, "He does love you."
Mey signed, I know. But talking to him is tough, and now that I can't talk, communicating seems impossible. After the incident, the doctors said my wings were permanently damaged, and I would never be able to fly again.
And while talking, she fell asleep.